Control device for doughnut machines



Fel 11 1941- v. v. GuNsoLLEY 2,231,667

ONTROL DEVICE FOR DQUGHNUT MACHINES Filed )lay 21,A 1938 Verne V. Gunsolle's Patented Feb. 11, 1941 artnr oFFIcE CONTROL DEVICE FOR DOUGHNUT MACH INES

Verne V. Gunsolley, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Dough-King, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 21, 1938, Serial No. 209,262

9 Claims.

My invention relates to control devices for doughnut machines and particularly to a device for controlling the travel of doughnuts to a doughnut turner or ejector of the continuous type such as disclosed in the application for patent to Peter J. Toews, Serial Number 114,395 led Dec. 5, 1936.

An object of the invention resides in providing a device by means of which the travel of doughnuts is positively and eiectively controlled.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device which will not injure the doughnuts.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a device which assists in causing the doughnuts to travel along their desired course when the doughnut is released.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device in which a member engages the doughnut from beneath.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a control device having an engaging member in which the engaging member eng-ages the doughnut to be released in a manner such that the -doughnut is raised at the tail end of the same so as to cause the doughnut to move by gravity off from the engaging member and caused to be discharged ahead of the same.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device having two engaging members and in arranging one of said engaging members for movement from beneath the doughnut and the other one for movement from above the doughnut.

A feature of the invention resides in providing means for simultaneously operating both the said engaging members.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a control device in which the space between the submerged engaging member and the bottom of the trough in which the device is disposed is at all times closed.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the submerged engaging member with two parts hingedly connected together at corresponding ends and adapted to slide along the bottom of the trough of the doughnut machine at their other ends. 5 Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a doughnut machine illustrating an embodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 5

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showingthe parts in altered position.

In the application for patent of Peter J. Toews, above referred to, a doughnut machine is disclosed in which the doughnuts are deposited in a cooking liquid contained in a pan or receptacle providing a way along which the doughnuts may travel and in which the doughnuts are progressed through propulsion of cooking liquid. In this way are disposed a turner and an ejector both of the continuous type which ar-e adapted to turn or eject the doughnuts any time the doughnuts reach the same. With such devices it becomes necessary to provide some means for controlling the rate of travel of the doughnutsto the turner or ejector which, in the application of patent shown, consisted of a pair of alternately movable gates. The present invention is of the nature of the said gates and may be used in substitution thereof.

Inasmuch as the construction of doughnut machines with which my invention may be used is well known in the art, a complete doughnut machine has not been illustrated in this application and only so much of the doughnut machine as is necessary to describe ythe present invention has been shown.

In the drawing a portion of a doughnut machine A has been illustrated which consists of a pan I having a way I I in the same. This pan contains the cooking liquid the level of which is indicated by the reference numeral I2. The cooking liquid travels as previously described in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 2 and causes the progression of doughnuts along the way, the doughnuts floating along the surface of the cooking liquid. The pan I0 is constructed with side walls I3 and I4 and a bottom I5 connected therewith.

The invention proper comprises two engaging members which are indicated in their entireties by the reference numerals IB and Il. These engaging members are supported and operated as will now be described in detail.

The engaging member I6 consists of a shaft, 50 or cylindrical rod I8, which is attached at its ends to a U-shaped frame I9. Frame I9 consists of two legs or slides 2| which are connected tcgether at their upper ends through a cross bar 2 This frame may be constructed from a strip -the saidi fingers'.

of metal bent into the desired form, if desired. The two slides 2| are slidably mounted for reciprocating movement in `two U-shaped guides 23, secured to the sides i3 and I4 of the pan I0. These guides are constructed with a back 24 and outwardly turned edges 25 which form in said guides grooves 26 in which the slides 2I may slide. The guides 23 yare preferably recessed into the walls I3 and I4 of the pan I 3 so that the edges of said guides do not protrude beyond the inner surfaces of said walls whereby the possi-f bility of the doughnuts catching on said walls is prevented. The guides 23 are preferably arranged on an angle as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the purpose of which will be subsequently eX- pla-ined.

Pivoted on the rod I8 are a number of fingers 21. These iingers are constructed of wire and have bent, at the upper ends thereof, loops 2B which extend about the shaft or rod I8 and which serve to -pivot said fingers on said rod. The other ends of said lingers are provided with similar loops 29 which ride upon the bottom I5 of the pan I6. These loops merely form bearing surfaces to prevent the rods from catching on` the bottom as the device is manipulated. The lingers 21 extend rearwardly of the rod I8. The various fingers 2.1 are ben-t, as designated at 51% so that, when the frame I9 is in its uppermost position, portions 55 of the said lingers extend vertically adjacent the loops 28 of the engaging member I6 and prevent thedoughnuts from climbing over said portions. The engaging member I 6 also comprises other iingers 3Isimilar to the ingers 21, which extend forwardly of the rod I8. These iingers are. likewise constructed with loops. 32 which are pivotedon. the rod I3 and withloops 33 which slide alongthe bottom I5 of pan I. Between the various loops 28 and 32 vare `arranged spacer washers Sil which hold 'the iingers. in spaced relation and prevent lateral movement of T'he portion of the engaging member It which engages the underside of. the doughnut consists of the various loops 28 and 32 of the fingers 21 and 3I and will be referred to by the reference numeral 55.

The upper end of the cross bar 22, of the frame I9, has secured to it ia yoke 35. This yoke is `constructed with a slot 36 which forms two arms 31 extending outwardlyy in spaced relation. Pivoted'by means of a pin Ml to the yoke 35 between the arms 3'! is a link G3.. A lever 38- is mounted on a-shaft 39 whichv is journaledinbearings lll, secured `to Ithe walls I3 and I4 of the panV lil.

This lever has a head i2 which is bifurcated similarly to the yoke 35. A pin lili passes through the link 43 and the head 42 and forms a pivotal connection therebetween. It will be readily compreliended that, upon oscillation of the shaft 33, the lever 38 is swungand the frame I 9 slid along the guides 23. For operating the shaft 39 a crank arm i5 is employed which has connected to it .a link 4% which may be driven by any suitable means forming a part of the transmission of the doughnut machine.

Theengaging'member Il! consists of a plate of metal bent to provide an arm 47 and a iinger t8 issuing therefrom. Armv 4T underlies the :cross bar 22 of frame I9 and is secured thereto by means* of rivets t9. The engaging member I'I is so constructed that the linger 133 lies parallel with the'slides 2 I 'I'hev operation of the invention is as follows: Normally the parts have the positionr as shown in- Fig. Zand the doughnuts indica-ted -by the reftirely below `the doughnuts floating in the cooking liquid in the pan I. As soon as the engaging portion 55, of the engaging member I6, passes below the doughnut 5B all of the doughnuts in lthe row travel in the direction Vof the arrow. As soon as the engaging -portion 56 passes below the doughnut, the edge 53 of ringer 48 is moved into the path of .travel of the doughnuts and the doughnuts become arrested in the position shown in Fig. 3 inA which the doughnut 5S is now held back by the said linger. When the frame i3 is again elevated the engaging portion 53 engages the. doughnut 58 from beneath and tilts the same upwardly,.as indicated in dotted lines at la in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the device is so shaped that the portion 56 engages the doughnut rearwardly of the center of gravity of the `same so' that `the doughnut is tilted forwardly. The doughnut then slides off of engaging portion 53 and along the iingers 3l, being discharged beneath the edge 53er linger d8 and-into the cooking liquid beyond the control device. As the doughnut 58 is discharged the next following doughnuty is brought up into engagement with the portions 55 of fingers 2 whereupon the movement of the doughnuts is again arrested. The device then operates repeatedly through the same cycle, thus controlling the travel of the doughnuts along the way II'. It will be noted that the lowermost portion of the linger d8, which determines when the doughnuts are freed thereby, is situated a dis-tance above the loops 28 and 32 of the fingers 27 and 3l vsomewhat greater than the thickness of the doughnut so that a doughnut when disposed, as indicated at dotted lines at 53a in Fig. 2, may pass over the said loops and beneath :the edge`5'3 of said linger.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple and practical construction is provided whereby the'travel of the doughnuts' bers to engage the doughnut from beneath and.

the other to engage it from above, a rigid combined structure results which will not get out of adjustment. By so constructing the device botli parts a-re simultaneouslyroperated and a single operating member may be used to actuate the movement of both of said parts. By arranging the guidesfor the frame on an incline, the doughnut, on being released, is urged in the direction of travel of the cooking liquid and impetus is given the doughnut to. commence to travel in the proper direction. By engaging the doughnut from underneath. `at the locality speciiied,` the doughnut is caused to slide oli' of. the engaging member and in the proper direction. In this manner it becomes impossible to block the action of the device and the doughnuts are positively disengaged from the same. With my invention an extremely great range of fat elevation is possible, the device operating-at any fat elevation within wide limits. By use of the two sets of fingers pivoted together and slidablev along the bottom of the trough, the space beneath the-engaging portion of the engaging member is at` all times closed so that it becomes impossible for doughnuts to become lodged beneath the engaging member or between it and the bottom of the trough. The device is thus rendered positive in When the frame I9- action. By arranging the guides on an incline as illustrated, movement of the engaging members is partly in the direction of travel of the cooking liquid so that the devices does not back up the doughnuts rand injury to the doughnuts is prevented. i

Changes in the speciiic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along `a way through the ow of the cooking liquid, a movable support movable transversely of the direction of the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member carried by said support and adapted to be moved into engagement with the doughnuts from one side thereof, a second engaging member carried by said support and disposed in fixed relation with respect to the first named engaging member and adapted to engage the doughnut from the opposite side thereof, means for guiding said support for movement obliquely with respect to the direction of travel of the cooking liquid and means for moving said support to procure alternate engagement of said engaging members with the doughnut.

2. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a Way through the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member adap-ted to be moved into engagement with the doughnuts from beneath, said engaging member comprising two ramps pivoted together at their upper ends and slidable at their lower ends along `the bottom of said way, said ramps being adapted in one position of the engaging member to lie substantially in continuation of one another to alloys7 the doughnuts to travel above the same and in another position to be arranged in the form of an inverted V to obstruct the travel of doughnuts past the same.

3. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed in a row along away through the flow of the cooking liquid and engaging member, means for guiding said engaging member for movement from a non-engaging position to a position engaging the last doughnut in the row, a second engaging member, means for guiding said second engaging member for movement from a position beneath the doughnuts to a position engaging the same doughnut intermediate the center thereof and the next doughnut, said second engaging member during its movement engaging the doughnut from beneath and raising the rear end of the doughnut to cause the same to slide ofi from said engaging member as the same is raised and means for moving the first named engaging member out of engagement with the doughnut to allow the doughnut to be discharged from the second named engaging member.

4. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, a U-shaped frame having two legs and a connecting portion, a rod extending across said legs at the free ends thereof, two ramps pivoted on said rod and adapted to swing upon movement of said frame and a finger carried by said frame, said ramps and linger being movable to control the travel of the doughnut past the same.

5. In a doughnut machine having a channel formed with side walls and a bottom in which the doughnuts are progressed through the ow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member adapted to be moved into engagement `with the doughnuts from beneath, said member being disposed between the side walls of the channel, said engaging member comprising two ramps pivoted together at their upper ends and extending downwardly toward the bottom, means for raising the upper ends of said ramps to move the engaging member from inoperative to engaging position, the lower ends of said ramps during movement of the upper ends thereof following along the bottom and maintaining the space between the upper ends of the ramps and the bottom obstructed to prevent the entry of doughnuts beneath the engaging member.

6. In a doughnut machine having a channel formed with side Walls and a bottom in which the dough-nuts are progressed through the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member adapted to be moved into engagement with the doughnuts from beneath, said member being disposed between the side walls of the channel, said engaging member comprising two ramps pivoted together at their upper ends and extending downwardly toward the bottom, means for raising the upper ends of said ramps to move the engaging member from inoperative to engaging position, the lower ends of said ramps during movement of the upper ends thereof sliding along the bottom of the way and maintaining the space between the upper ends of the ramps and the bottom obstructed to prevent the entry of doughnuts between the engaging member and the bottom, said ramps, when in raised position, forming a-n inverted V to obstruct the doughnuts past the same.

'7. In a doughnut machine having a channel formed with sidewalls and a bottom in which the doughnuts are progressed through the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member adapted to be moved into engagement with the doughnuts from beneath, said member being disposed between the side walls of the channel, said engaging member comprising two ramps pivoted together at their upper ends, means for guiding the upper ends of the ramp for up-anddown movement and means for guiding the lower ends of the ramps for longitudinal movement with respect to the direction of iiow of the cooking liquid in the chan-nel.

8. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed in a row along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging member for engaging the last doughnut in the row, a second engaging member spaced from the rst engaging member a distance less than the maximum diameter of a doughnut and adapted t engage the last doughnut in the row intermediate the ends thereof and from beneath, means for moving said engaging members in alternation to bring the rst engaging member out of engagement with the last doughnut in the row and the second engaging member into engagement With the same dough-nut, said second named engaging member when in engaging position obstructing the movement of the following doughnut in the row.

9. In a doughnut machine in which the doughnuts are progressed in a ro-w along a way through the flow of the cooking liquid, an engaging mem.- ber for engaging the last doughnut in the row, a second engaging member spaced from the rst engaging member a distance less than the maximum diameter of a doughnut and adapted to engage the last doughnut in the row intermediate the ends thereof andv from beneath, means for moving said engaging members in alternation'to bring the rst engaging member out 0f 5? engagement with the last doughnut in the row aludl the second `engaging member into engagement with the same doughnut,V and a skid apenas?" formed on said second named engaging member for lcausing the doughnut engaged thereby to slide off fromV the same, said second namedY engaging member when in engaging position obstructing the movement of the following dough-y nut in the row.

VERNE V. GUNSOLLEY'. 

